VOW has become the only wholesaler to have entries shortlisted for more than one prize in the annual award scheme operated by the British Office Supplies and Services Federation (BOSS).
The leading business products and facilities supplies wholesaler has become a finalist in the Initiative of the Year category for its Product Conveyor and seen its senior web designer Daniel Canetti shortlisted in the Emerging Professional of the Year award.
VOW’s Product Conveyor allows end-users to order goods from resellers as they become available throughout the year, though the company says its annual catalogue, containing thousands of items, still serves as a hugely useful sales tool and basis for informed purchasing decisions by resellers.
The highly streamlined Product Conveyor process, which took several months to develop, has removed catalogue-related launch barriers, such as production deadlines, and up to 78 days from an item’s launch lifecycle. There are now as few as 10 days between suppliers presenting goods to VOW and these becoming available to resellers.
VOW launched over 270 items via Product Conveyor in the first half of this year – an average of more than two per day – and expects to have added over 1,200 products to the by the of 2017.
Dan Canetti joined VOW less than two years ago with very little industry experience. However, he was recognised by his peers in 2016 as Support Employee of the Year for the entire evo Group, of which VOW is a part, ahead of more than 1,000 other eligible staff. He was also promoted from executive to senior web designer.
Reacting to the two short-listings, VOW managing director Adrian Butler said: “We’re delighted at this recognition.
“The Product Conveyor is an industry game-changer, as it’s transformed the way the channel works. It’s broken the mould of the sector’s rigid traditional merchandising and annual catalogue cycle, replacing it with a much more contemporary and flexible model, ensuring that resellers can offer customers the right products at the right times.
“Dan’s shortlisting is also richly deserved, as he’s quickly made himself a pivotal part of our large organisation. In addition to extensive technical skills, he’s demonstrated excellent leadership, project management and other key aptitudes.”
Winners of this year’s BOSS Awards will be announced on 30 November at London’s Tower Guoman Hotel.
VOW’s double-shortlisting echoes its performance last year, when it was also the only wholesaler to be a finalist in two categories: it went on to win the Initiative of the Year prize for its VOW Venture enhanced partner accreditation programme and was shortlisted in the Catalogue of the Year section.